AMBI: DOOR OPENS AND BELL RINGS.
TRACK: For over 60 years, N&R Deli has stood on the corner of 25th avenue and 78th street in Jackson Heights. Nick and Rosalie DiGiovanni opened the deli in 1960, and two years ago Genaro Geraldo Chino, better known as Gino by the community, took over the business after making sandwiches behind the counter for almost 20 years.
ACT: GINO: I came to this deli, Rose’s deli, Anthony’s deli, her son. I work with them 17 years. I start work here 5 days a week 9 to 5. I started like clean, put the soda in the fridge, mop the floor every night. Learning very hard for me because I never did sandwich before starting here.
TRACK: The coronavirus pandemic led the deli to close for 3 months, and Gino stepped up when he heard they would not be reopening.
ACT: GINO: Before, when the start of the pandemic, we closed 3 months. And I asked Anthony “When you open again?”, and he told me “I don’t open no more because my mother, she’s old, and I can’t do it myself.” I think one day why I don’t take the store because I work, I have many years with them why they don’t rent me the space. I start the store open July 9.
TRACK: Gino moved here from Mexico when he was 33 years old with his older brother.
ACT: GINO: I coming from Mexico um in 1996. I came with my brother, he was here before. When he went to Mexico I asked him “can you take me with you?”, and he said yes.
TRACK: Gino and his brother, Miguel, took over the deli together.
ACT: GINO: My brother and me we took the store and his son, he helps me a lot he’s a very good guy.
TRACK: And although Gino is in charge, he does not feel like the boss.
ACT: GINO: I don’t feel boss, I feel like another worker. Yeah, I do maybe a little extra. But I like it. I work uh 12 hours a day 6 days a week.
TRACK: Although the pandemic was difficult, business has improved.
ACT: GINO: It’s a little more better. Maybe 75% little better. Yeah, because I have a lot of things. I have sodas, beers, I have any juice milk whatever people want I have. We make everything clean, everything fresh.
TRACK: Residents of the community were also excited when Gino took over the business. Theresa Anderson, a Jackson Heights resident who has been going to the deli for nearly 15 years, was excited to hear that Gino took over.
ACT: THERESA ANDERSON: I brought all my kids to the deli before school and Gino was always there. He works hard and he deserves it. We all love him.
TRACK: Gino loves the community and his customers as much as they love him.
ACT: GINO: Yeah I like it, I love the job. I feel happy when I take customers, make sandwich for them. I talk with them, all the people. I talk with everybody young kids, old men. I love talking to everybody.
TRACK: Gino does not plan to retire for a while, but when he does, he hopes to go back to Mexico.
ACT: GINO: I plan to retire, but not now. Eh maybe in 10 years. I feel, I don’t feel old I feel young. I don’t know maybe I go my country, relax. Yeah, because I have family in Mexico.
TRACK: N&R Deli has been a family business that defined the community for decades. Gino has been a huge part of what the deli has been and what it will become. Although he isn’t going anywhere soon, Gino hopes to keep the Deli within his family. For Baruch College, I’m Mariam Kaawar